Being involved in a car accident is a frightening experience for anyone and even more so for a pregnant woman. The possibility of an injury to her unborn baby or worse, a miscarriage, is all too real. Regardless of the circumstances, losing a baby is always incredibly painful. Since amendments to the Texas Wrongful Death Act were enacted in 2003, it has been possible to file a lawsuit if a car accident causes a miscarriage. Although no amount of money will ever relieve expecting parents of their grief, negligent drivers must be held accountable for the death of unborn children.
Conveniently located in Houston, Sherman Law Firm has extensive experience handling wrongful death cases arising from car accidents. If you suffered a miscarriage after a car accident, or your unborn child sustained injuries as a result of the accident, you may be confused and angry and not know where to turn. Our personal injury attorneys will offer you the compassion, guidance and personal attention you deserve and fight for your right to just compensation.
What is a miscarriage?
A miscarriage is the accidental loss of a fetus that occurs before the 20th week of pregnancy. Symptoms include vaginal bleeding (accompanied by pain and discomfort), pelvic cramping, abdominal pain, or a dull ache in the lower back. It is worth noting that pain may not surface immediately, sometimes starting several hours or days after the bleeding has begun. This is why it is crucial for any pregnant woman to seek medical treatment after a car accident. Even a minor fender bender poses a danger, particularly in a high-risk pregnancy.
Other conditions that may indicate a pregnant woman is having a miscarriage after a car accident include:
- Pelvic cramping
- Swelling in the face or fingers
- Leakage of fluid or increased vaginal discharge
- Severe or persistent headaches
- Pain in the abdomen or shoulder areas
- Persistent vomiting unrelated to morning sickness
- Chills or a fever
- A noticeable change in the frequency or strength of your baby’s movements
- Painful or urgent urination
- Faintness or dizziness
Other Fetal Injuries after a Car Accident
In addition to a miscarriage, a car accident involving a pregnant woman can lead to complications such as:
- Preterm birth
- Ruptured placenta
- Hemorrhaging
- Premature rupture of membranes
- Emergency Cesarean section
A car accident also significantly increases the chances of a woman having a high-risk pregnancy — one which may result in health complications for the unborn baby. This is another reason why it is so important for a pregnant woman to immediately seek medical assistance after a car accident and to have proper legal representation as well.
Just Compensation for a Car Crash Miscarriage
At the Sherman Law Firm, we have the skills and experience to help you find justice and obtain compensation if you suffered a miscarriage after a car accident. We will work to show that the other driver was negligent for causing the accident and that the miscarriage would not have occurred had the accident not happened.
Not only are these cases emotionally trying, they are also complicated to prove. In fact, a medical expert must be able to provide testimony regarding “causation.” The means that a medical expert must present evidence that:
- The miscarriage was more likely than not a result of the accident.
- The pregnancy would more likely than not have resulted in a live birth had the accident not occurred.
There are numerous other factors involved in connecting a miscarriage to a car accident, such as the stage of the pregnancy and how long after the accident the miscarriage occurred. Our legal team will conduct an exhaustive investigation to determine the cause of the accident and tap our network of medical experts to provide the necessary evidence of causation.
We will also represent you in all dealings with the insurance company, knowing all too well that insurers will aggressively refute the link between the car accident and the miscarriage. Some of the defenses an insurance company will raise include:
- Prior history of miscarriage(s)
- Early stage pregnancies are more prone to miscarriage
- Your advanced age (over 40) which increases the risk of miscarriage
- A significant percentage of pregnancies result in spontaneous miscarriages
- The accident was minor and could not have caused your miscarriage
Contact Our Houston Car Crash Miscarriage Lawyer
Our attorneys know how to level the playing field against powerful insurance companies, their attorneys, claims adjusters, and investigators. We will fight for your right to compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses and other losses. We will stand by you, offering objective insights and a shoulder to lean on. A car crash miscarriage is an unspeakable tragedy. Don’t suffer in silence. Contact our office today to speak with one of our personal injury attorneys.
The Sherman Law Firm serves clients in Harris and Montgomery Counties and throughout the Houston area.